Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Preview | Team News, Stats & Key Men

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Preview | Team News, Stats & Key Men

On May fifth, Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace. After their heartbreaking loss to Chelsea last weekend, Liverpool will look to rebound against the Eagles. Palace have been a very tough team to play since Tony Pulis took over and Liverpool will have to recover quickly to make sure their title bid doesn’t totally fall apart. The tone of this game will depend on the result of the Everton – Manchester City game on Saturday. If City grab the victory, Liverpool may feel the title is beyond them and not play to their full abilities. If Everton get a result, Liverpool could be buoyed by that result and come out flying.

Team News

Both teams are in very good shape injury wise. Liverpool will be without Jose Enrique through a knee injury that has ruined his season. Liverpool will also be without Jordan Henderson who is serving the last game of his three game ban from his red card against Manchester CIty. Crystal Palace have no injuries to deal with.

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Interesting Statistics

Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last four home games against Liverpool.

The Eagles have not lost to Liverpool at home since 1997.

Liverpool won the reverse fixture at Anfield 3-1.

Crystal Palace have scored fewer goals at home than any other team in the Premier League.

Palace recently clinched safety meaning this is the first time Palace have ever not been relegated from the Premier League.

Key Men

After a poor performance verses Chelsea, Liverpool will need Luis Suarez to get back to being Luis Suarez against Palace. While he was poor against Chelsea, Suarez has the capacity to run the show at Selhurst. With a brace he would break the Premier League record for most goals in a season. The Uruguayan has scored or assisted a goal every 66 minutes this season. Along with scoring the most goals this season, Suarez has the most assists in the league and has created more clear cut chances than any other player in the league. The former Ajaz star has been phenomenal and Liverpool will need him to be phenomenal for the next two games and just hope Manchester City slip up.

Since coming to Palace in January, Joe Ledley has started every game for Palace. Ledley gives Palace some more solidity in the midfield which they will certainly need against the Liverpool midfield. The Welshman has a 79% tackle success rate since arriving at Palace and has made an interception every 37 minutes. The former Cardiff player has struck up a great partnership with the Crystal Palace captain, Mile Jedinak. Those two give Palace a defensive solidity and have played a large part in them clinching safety in the Premier League. Palace will need every bit of that defensive stability to stop Liverpool’s strike force.

Prediction

The mood of this game could be hugely influenced by the result of the Everton – Manchester City game. Liverpool will either be encouraged to go on and grab the title if Everton grab a result or feel it’s beyond them if City win. Crystal Palace have nothing to play for, but they will not want to let the home fans down in the last game at Selhurst Park this season. I see Liverpool coming out and winning a tight affair.